I was seven years old, when I got my first pairAnd I stepped outsideAnd I was like, Momma, this air bubble right here, it's gonna make me flyI hit backcourt, and when I jumped, I jumped, I swear I got so highI touched the net, Momna I touched the net, this is the best day of my lifeAir Max's were next,That air bubble, that meshThe box, the smell, the stuffin, the tread, in schoolI was so coolI knew that I couldn't crease 'emMy friends couldn't afford 'emFour stripes, some Air-didasOn the court I wasn't the best, but my kicks were like the prosYo, I stick out my tongue so everyone could see that logoNike Air Flight, but bad was so dopeAnd then my friend Carlos' brother got murdered for his fours, whoaSee he just wanted a jump shot, but they wanted to start a cult thoughDidn't wanna get caught, from Genesee Park to OthelloYou could clown for those Probings, with the velcroThose were not tightI was trying to fly without leaving the ground, cuz I wanted to be like Mike, rightWanted to be him, I wanted to be that guy, I wanted to touch the rimI wanted to be cool, and I wanted to fit in,I wanted what he had, America, it begins

[Chorus]I want to flyCan you take me far awayGive me a star to reach forTell me what it takesAnd I'll go so highI'll go so highMy feet won't touch the groundStitch my wingsAnd pull the stringsI bought these dreamsThat all fall down

We want what we can't have, commodity makes us want itSo expensive, damn, I just got to flaunt itGot to show 'em, so exclusive, this that new shitA hundred dollars for a pair of shoes I would never hoop inLook at me, look at me, I'm a cool kidI'm an individual, yea, but I'm part of a movementMy movement told me be a consumer and I consumed itThey told me to just do it, I listened to what that swoosh saidLook at what that swoosh didSee it consumed my thoughtsAre you stupid, don't crease 'em, just leave 'em in that boxStrangled by these laces, laces I can barely talkThat's my air bubble and I'm lost, if it popsWe are what we wear, we wear what we areBut see I look inside the mirror and think Phil Knight tricked us allWill I stand for change, or stay in my boxThese Nikes help me define me, and I'm trying to take mine, off

[Chorus]I want to flyCan you take me far awayGive me a star to reach forTell me what it takesAnd I'll go so highI'll go so highMy feet won't touch the groundStitch my wingsAnd pull the stringsI bought these dreamsThat all fall down

They started out, with what I wear to schoolThat first day, like these are what make you coolAnd this pair, this would be my parachuteSo much more than just a pair of shoesNah, this is what I amWhat I wore, this is the source of my youthThis dream that they sold to youFor a hundred dollars and some changeConsumption is in the veinsAnd now I see it's just another pair of shoes